Finding Aid to the Gerald A. ( Jerry ) Lawson Papers,

Transcription

1 Finding Aid to the, Summary Information Title: Gerald A. ( Jerry ) Lawson papers Creator: Jerry Lawson (primary) ID: Date: (inclusive); (bulk) Extent: 1 linear foot Language: The materials in this collection are in English. Abstract: The Gerald A. ( Jerry ) Lawson papers are a compilation of design documents, correspondence, business records, court records, and other papers relating to Lawson s career in the video game industry. The bulk of the materials are dated between 1976 and Repository: Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play at The Strong One Manhattan Square Rochester, New York [email protected] Administrative Information Conditions Governing Use: This collection is open for research use by staff of The Strong and by users of its library and archives. Though the donor has not transferred intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to any copyright, trademark, and associated rights therein) to The Strong, he has given permission for The Strong to make copies in all media for museum, educational, and research purposes. Custodial History: The Gerald A. ( Jerry ) Lawson papers were donated to The Strong in October 2013 as a gift from Marc Anderson Lawson, son of Jerry Lawson. The documents were accessioned by The Strong under Object ID Preferred citation for publication: Gerald A. ( Jerry ) Lawson papers, Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play at The Strong Processed by: Julia Novakovic, December 2013 Controlled Access Terms Personal Names Lawson, Gerald A., McElroy, Daniel F. Corporate Names Fairchild (Firm) Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation Video Soft, Inc. December 2013 Page 1

2 Subjects African-American engineers Channel F (Video game console) Channel F System II (Video game console) Color Bar Generator (Cartridge) Electronic games industry Electronic games--history. TV POWWW (Television program) Video game industry Video games--history. Biographical Note Gerald A. ( Jerry ) Lawson was an African-American engineer and video game pioneer, best known for developing the first video game console system featuring interchangeable cartridges: the Fairchild Channel F. Lawson was born in Brooklyn, New York, in He grew up in Queens, pursuing a variety of scientific interests. As a teenager during the 1950s, Lawson repaired televisions and radios while maintaining an amateur radio station out of his home. He attended Queens College and the City College of New York before starting his career at ITT s Federal Electric division. Lawson s interest in computers intensified as he accepted positions at Grumman Aircraft, PRD Electronics, and Kaiser. In 1970, Lawson started working for Fairchild, which produced semi-conductors, microprocessors, and other transistor and circuitry equipment. The management at Fairchild asked Lawson to create a video game console prototype for the company after discovering that he constructed his own coin-operated game called Demolition Derby. He utilized the Fairchild F8 processor in the base console and developed a mechanism which allowed for the insertion of separate memory devices (or game cartridges) without destroying the console s semiconductors. Lawson built what eventually came to the retail market in 1976 as the Fairchild Channel F (originally called the Fairchild Video Entertainment System), the first home video game system to use separate programmable cartridges for each game. Lawson founded Video Soft, Inc. in 1980, with Stephen Yueng and Daniel McElroy. They worked as consultants and created game cartridges for the Atari 2600 and other game systems. He later acted as a mentor to students at Stanford University. In March 2011, the International Game Developers Association honored Lawson for his innovative work in engineering and video gaming. He passed away in April 2011, in Mountain View, California. December 2013 Page 2

3 Collection Scope and Content Note The Gerald A. ( Jerry ) Lawson papers contain materials from 1967 through 1994, with the bulk of the papers dated between 1976 and Items in this collection include correspondence, business records, design documents, court records, published game console/cartridge instructions, creative writing, news articles, a copy of a patent for a hand-held game controller, and an oversized schematic drawing. Additional scope and content information can be found under the Contents List section of this finding aid. The Gerald A. ( Jerry ) Lawson papers are arranged into three series. The collection is housed in two archival document boxes and one oversized flat folder. System of Arrangement Series I: Personal papers, Series II: Fairchild, Series III: Video Soft, Inc. and consulting, Contents List Series I: Personal papers, Scope and Content Note: This series holds personal correspondence and creative writing by Lawson, as well as news articles about his career. An audio cassette recording of Lawson reciting original screenplay ideas is included with the notes in Folder 3. Box 1 Folder 1 Jerry Lawson personal correspondence, Folder 2 Jerry Lawson publicity/news clippings, Folder 3 Jerry Lawson screenplay ideas and notes, n.d. [c. 1979] with audio recording, n.d. Folder 4 Stanford Aero/Astronautics Department Honor, 1994 Series II: Fairchild, Scope and Content Note: This series contains materials related to the Fairchild Channel F game console (designed by Lawson), and its follow-up, the Channel F System II. Items of note are an oversized schematic drawing of the Channel F console casing, function specifications for Videocart cartridge games, and a copy of the patent issued for the Channel F game controllers. In addition to businessrelated materials, this series includes copies of court records documenting Lawson s testimony in a 1993 lawsuit between Fairchild Semiconductor and Nintendo. Folder 10 houses a 1979 proposal from MCL Electronics describing the POW system, ultimately used for the interactive television game show TV POWWW. (Contestants watching a video game on their television screen at home would call December 2013 Page 3

4 Box 1 Folder 5 in and control the game play, indicating when the weapon on-screen should fire by saying Pow! ) Stations airing the program, which began in 1978, were originally supplied with a Channel F console. The International Center for the History of Electronic Games (ICHEG) at The Strong also holds three generations of Fairchild Channel F prototype printed circuit boards, along with Channel F and Channel F System II game consoles owned by Lawson. ICHEG also has numerous Channel F Videocart game cartridges and prototype cartridges. Gerald A. Lawson employee identification badge, Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation, n.d. [c. 1972] Folder 6 Fairchild function specifications for Flying Saucer, Torpedo Alley, and Math Quiz, April 27, 1976 Folder 7 Fairchild function specifications for Slalom Race and Race to the Moon, April 30, 1976 Folder 8 Fairchild business correspondence, 1976 and n.d. Folder 9 U.S. Patent #4,085,301, Hand-Held Controller Device, Ronald A. Smith and Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation, April 18, 1978 Folder 10 MCL Electronics and Marvin A. Kempner, POW System Proposal, February 3, Folder 11 Folder 12 Folder 13 Folder 14 Folder 15 Folder 16 Folder 17 Folder 18 Folder 19 Folder Fairchild Video Entertainment System user s manual, 1976 [Channel F console] Fairchild Video Entertainment System/Videocart Cartridge limited warranty cards, n.d. [c. 1976] [Channel F console] Channel F game console instructions, Superchess, n.d. Channel F System II instructions, Playing Tennis and Playing Hockey, n.d. Channel F System II Videocart Cartridges brochure, n.d. Channel F System II - Videocart 24 Pro Football instructions, n.d. Alpex Computer Corp. v. Parker Brothers, Affidavit of Gerald Lawson with attached exhibits, March 30, 1988 Fairchild Semiconductor, Jerry Lawson contact card, n.d. June 17, 1993 November 18, 1993 Box 2 Folder 1 Oversized Folder 1 December 9, 1993 Oversized schematic drawing, Channel F console case, n.d. December 2013 Page 4

5 Series III: Video Soft, Inc. and consulting, Scope and Content Note: This series houses business records and product specification documents from Lawson s company, Video Soft, founded in (Video Soft created video game cartridges for the Atari 2600 and other game systems.) Papers include business plans, design documents, and company stationery. ICHEG holds Video Soft prototype cartridges from Lawson in its electronic game collections. Box 2 Folder 2 Atari Video Computer System Programming Manual, Revision C, July 1, 1982 Folder 3 Video Soft, Inc. consultant agreement template, January 1983 Folder 4 Who Wears the Crown game description and letter, April 1983 Folder 5 Video Soft, Inc. List of Manufacturers, Competitors, and/or Potential Clients, Folder 6 June 22, 1983 Video Soft, Inc. design specification documents and instructions, Jerry Lawson and Dan McElroy, Folder 7 Wonder Clock project, Folder 8 Color Bar Generator cartridge materials, 1984 Folder 9 Video Soft, Inc. Confidential Business Plan, March 9, 1984 Folder 10 Video Soft, Inc. Confidential Business Plan, February 3, 1985 Folder 11 Folder 12 Folder 13 FCC Procedure for Measuring RF Emissions from Computing Devices, July 1987 Video Soft, Inc. brochure and stationery, n.d. Video Soft, Inc. company folders, n.d. December 2013 Page 5